When Pawel Wolak retired from boxing almost three years ago, he'd nearly reached the top of the field. He had a 29-2-1 record, and was the third-ranked junior middleweight in the world.

But Wolak, a Roxbury graduate who turns 33 on Sept. 26, was tired of working construction full-time and only training as a fighter part-time. He thought the route to long-term success was in mixed martial arts.

Wolak announced his MMA debut today. He will be part of the American Predator Fighting Championship near Chicago on Oct. 11. Born in Debica, Poland, Wolak hopes to draw support from the area's large Polish community.

A wrestler at Morris Hills and Roxbury, Wolak began training as a boxer at famed Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn while attending Brooklyn College. He also has been working out at Smith's Kickboxing Academy in Sparta, as well as with Brazilian jiu jitsu trainer Renzo Gracie.